Apple adding Facebook features to iPhone OS 4 - rumor
Apple's iPhone OS 4 could sport built-in integration with Facebook, including contact syncing and social connectivity to App Store software, according to a new report.
Citing a "plugged-in source in the mobile industry," Silicon Alley Insider reported Wednesday that the forthcoming iPhone software upgrade will "at least" allow direct syncing with Facebook contacts. The report said the feature could be unveiled as soon as June 7, at the keynote address at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
"We also hear that Apple could be integrating Facebook Connect directly into its software developers kit so programmers can more easily add Facebook 'social' features to their apps," author Dan Frommer wrote. "But we don't have details on how that might work."
He also speculated that Apple could build "some sort of Facebook messaging features" into the latest version of the iPhone OS, such as allowing messages to be sent via Facebook Chat in a manner as simple as sending a text message.
Integration with Facebook is already a prominent feature of Google's competing mobile operating system, Android 2.0, released last year. Microsoft has also planned strong Facebook connectivity with its forthcoming Windows Phone 7, due out later this year.
In early April, Apple introduced iPhone OS 4 with 100 new features, the largest of them multitasking support for the mobile operating system. Developers currently have access to preview builds of iPhone OS 4, but the software does not currently offer any integration with Facebook.
Citing a "plugged-in source in the mobile industry," Silicon Alley Insider reported Wednesday that the forthcoming iPhone software upgrade will "at least" allow direct syncing with Facebook contacts. The report said the feature could be unveiled as soon as June 7, at the keynote address at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
"We also hear that Apple could be integrating Facebook Connect directly into its software developers kit so programmers can more easily add Facebook 'social' features to their apps," author Dan Frommer wrote. "But we don't have details on how that might work."
He also speculated that Apple could build "some sort of Facebook messaging features" into the latest version of the iPhone OS, such as allowing messages to be sent via Facebook Chat in a manner as simple as sending a text message.
Integration with Facebook is already a prominent feature of Google's competing mobile operating system, Android 2.0, released last year. Microsoft has also planned strong Facebook connectivity with its forthcoming Windows Phone 7, due out later this year.
In early April, Apple introduced iPhone OS 4 with 100 new features, the largest of them multitasking support for the mobile operating system. Developers currently have access to preview builds of iPhone OS 4, but the software does not currently offer any integration with Facebook.
Comments
(Edit: the more i think about it, it's not so far fetched)
2002 called and they want their "first post" comment back.
Back to the topic at hand, this isn't terribly implausible. By baking in Facebook Connect support into the iPhone OS, that facilitates app developers in adding that functionality into their apps, much like Location Services.
It better be an optional feature for those who do not want it
I don't see why it wouldn't be an optional feature. You can turn off almost everything else (e.g., Push Notifications). You don't even need to configure e-mail on your iPhone/iPod touch. You can be fairly anonymous.
Facebook Connect would be opt-in.
Facebook is a plague.
It better be an optional feature for those who do not want it
It better be. I don't have Facebook and I don't want it. And I don't want to see traces of it all over OS 4.0
four letter word starting with 'f' followed by 'no!' in all caps.
Facebook is a plague.
+1,000,000
No need for integration into the OS.
They have an app, leave it at that please. Facebook is like AOL....junk.
No need for integration into the OS.
I don't use Facebook myself, but if it helps sell oodles of iPhones, I'm okay with it.
That's my perspective as an AAPL shareholder.
I don't use Facebook myself, but if it helps sell oodles of iPhones, I'm okay with it.
That's my perspective as an AAPL shareholder.
I agree with that aspect of it too. Especially with 400M accounts.
I'm surprised there aren't tons of Facebook branded feature phones.
Yawn.
It better be an optional feature for those who do not want it
I'm sure it is considering not everyone has a Facebook account...
I thought that FaceBook fad was just about over?
Sadly, no.
I don't see Apple selling their soul to Facebook. If they thought it was the greatest thing out there, they would create their own and make it not suck.
I am not sure I buy adding it to the OS anyway. iPhone is much more about lean and powerful - and with OS4 why would it need to be part of the OS anyway if it has an API that is accessible?
I can't see this as anything but an option and a bad one at that. What value does it give to have that crap on my iPhone - if they "add" it I hope it is done like iBooks - it is accessible but dump-ible cause I would prefer to have the space than have that. If it is an add-on then at least we can dump it.
It would be something like e-mail on the iPhone. You have to configure it. If you don't have it or don't want to use it, you would be free to basically turn it off.
Just like Location Services or WiFi.
Not a big deal.